Elizabeth Howard, Countess of Carrick facts for kids
Elizabeth Howard (1564—1646) was an important English noblewoman. She served Queen Elizabeth I and later Anne of Denmark, who was the wife of King James I.
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Early Life and Family Connections
Elizabeth Howard was born in 1564. Her father was Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, a very important nobleman. Her mother was Catherine Carey. Elizabeth came from a powerful and well-known family.
Serving Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth Howard became a courtier, which means she worked and lived at the royal court. She was a "maid of honour" and "lady in waiting" to Queen Elizabeth I. This meant she helped the Queen and spent a lot of time with her. Her sister, Frances Howard, Countess of Kildare, also served the Queen.
On April 17, 1583, Elizabeth married Sir Robert Southwell. He was from Woodrising, Norfolk. Sir Robert passed away in October 1598. After his death, Elizabeth was known as a wealthy widow.
Life at the Court of Anne of Denmark
In 1603, Elizabeth Howard began serving Anne of Denmark, who was the new Queen of England. She became a "lady of the Privy Chamber." This was a special role, meaning she was close to the Queen and helped with her personal needs.
Her daughter, also named Elizabeth Southwell, also became a maid of honour to Queen Anne. Other family members, like her daughters Frances and Katherine, also served in the Queen's Privy Chamber after 1608.
Elizabeth Howard, sometimes called "Lady Sothwell," was mentioned as being part of the Queen's drawing-room in 1604. She even danced at a royal event called The Masque of Indian and China Knights at Hampton Court on January 1, 1604.
Later Marriage and Death
In October 1604, Elizabeth married Sir John Stewart in Chelsea. He was the son of Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney. John Stewart later became Lord Kinclaven in 1607 and then the Earl of Carrick in 1628.
Elizabeth Howard, known as "Lady Kencleven" at the time, was part of the procession at the funeral of Anne of Denmark in 1619.
She passed away in 1646 and was buried in Greenwich.
A writer named Christopher Sutton dedicated some of his books to Lady Southwell and her daughters. These books included Disce Mori (1600) and Disce Vivere (?1604). He also dedicated Godly Meditations on the Most Holy Sacrament (1613) to her daughters Frances and Katherine.
Portraits of Elizabeth Howard, her mother Catherine Carey, and her daughter Elizabeth Southwell were sold at Cowdray Park in 2011.
Children of Elizabeth Howard
Elizabeth Howard had several children:
- Charles Southwell (born and died in 1588).
- Thomas Southwell (died 1648). He married Margaret Fuller.
- Elizabeth Southwell (1584-1631). She was a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth and later to Anne of Denmark. She wrote down what happened when Queen Elizabeth died. She was buried in Florence, Italy.
- Frances Southwell. She was a gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber to Anne of Denmark. She married Sir Edward Rodney in 1614.
- Katherine Southwell. She was also a gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber to Anne of Denmark. She married Greville Verney, 7th Baron Willoughby de Broke in 1618.
- Robert Southwell.
- Margaret Stewart. She married Sir Matthew Mennes.
